The provisional calendar for the 2017 FIA European Rally Championship has been released and includes the Rally di Roma Capitale, the all-asphalt event that passes by the world famous Colosseum, marking the ERC’s return to Italy for the first time since 2013 when Rallye Sanremo was part of the championship.
Rally di Roma Capitale is one of eight events that have been proposed for 2017 (schedule remains subject to FIA approval), other events lined up for the new season include Acropolis Rally (Subject to promoter agreement signature), Azores Airlines Rallye, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Cyprus Rally, Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés, Rally Liepāja and Rally Rzeszow.
Two more events may be added to the schedule ahead of its submission to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for ratificaion in Vienna on 30 November. Drivers taking part throughout the season will count their six best results of the year towards the final championship standings.
The ERC Junior Championship will join the main event on six occasions – Azores Airlines Rallye, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, Rally di Roma Capitale, Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés and Rally Liepāja; with drivers taking their four best scores towards the championship.
“We’re very pleased to be joining forces with Motorsport Italia, which launched Rally di Roma Capitale three years ago and has managed its rise as a top Italian championship event.” said Jean-Baptiste Ley, the ERC Co-ordinator.
“We’re also delighted to be continuing our long-term agreements with some of Europe’s best rallies on asphalt and gravel. There will be a maximum of 10 rallies and we’re considering adding at least one more event, in central Europe, to the current provisional schedule. Teams will continue to receive strong logistical support for the island rallies as we continue our efforts to keep a control on costs.”
Provisional 2017 FIA European Rally Championship calendar
2-4 March: Azores Airlines Rallye (Portugal, gravel)
31 March-2 April: TBA (Southern Europe, gravel)**
4-6 May: Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés (Spain, asphalt)
2-4 June: Acropolis Rally (Greece, gravel)**
16-18 June: Cyprus Rally (Cyprus, asphalt and gravel)
3-5 August: Rally Rzeszow (Poland, asphalt)
25-27 August: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic, asphalt)
15-17 September: Rally di Roma Capitale (Italy, asphalt)
6-8 October: Rally Liepāja (Latvia, gravel)
3-5 November: TBA (Central Europe, asphalt) **
**Subject to promoter agreement signature;
Provisional 2017 FIA Junior European Rally Championship calendar
2-4 March: Azores Airlines Rallye (Portugal, gravel)
4-6 May: Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés (Spain, asphalt)
25-27 August: Barum Czech Rally Zlín (Czech Republic, asphalt)
15-17 September: Rally di Roma Capitale (Italy, asphalt)
6-8 October: Rally Liepāja (Latvia, gravel)
3-5 November: TBA (Central Europe, asphalt)**
**Subject to promoter agreement signature;